'McLaren set new pit stop record'

McLaren insist they have improved their pit stops, pointing out that they made the "fastest stationary pit stop in motor racing history" in Valencia...

McLaren insist they have made big strides when it comes it pit stops, pointing out that one of their stops in Valencia was the "fastest stationary pit stop in motor racing history".

The Woking squad's pit crew are once again under pressure after a bungled second stop cost Lewis Hamilton the chance to challenge for the European Grand Prix race win on Sunday.

Hamilton dropped from third to sixth as he was forced to spend some extra seconds in the pit lane after the team's front wheel jack failed during his second stop.

McLaren fans have vented their anger over Twitter following the latest bungle and, according to The Telegraph, new Sporting Director Sam Michael bore the brunt of the criticism.

However, the team have been quick to point out that the pit crew were on form for most of the afternoon.

'They claim that data from the race shows that the 2008 world champion's first stop in Valencia was actually the "fastest stationary pit stop in motor racing history" at 2.6sec,' the paper said.

Adding: 'McLaren had the two fastest pit-lane times during Sunday's race - a 19.36sec for Hamilton and a 19.64sec for Jenson Button - while their average stationary pit-stop time, discounting the one which arguably cost Hamilton the chance to fight for victory, was a sprightly 2.95 seconds.

'Mercedes were the previous record holders of the fastest stationary pit stop, achieving a time similar to McLaren's 2.6secs in Korea last year. But the Woking team believe they were just quicker.'